The primary school bid adieu to the old, failing wooden kindergarten playground, in favour of a bright, fun and safe GameTime playground that promotes interactive play. See the before and after below!

Since budgets can be tight in small, rural communities like Cobden, the parent council came up with lucrative options such as hot lunch fundraisers, and applying for grants. Cobden School Teacher and parent council member Ian Covell applied to the Play! by CrozierSchool Grant Program, and was thrilled to hear that the school was approved for financial assistance.

“Our previous playground was worn out and done, so we were happy to hear that our application was successful with Play! by Crozier,” said Ian. “(Play! Sales Associate) Rob was fantastic- he answered all my questions and was clear on what we needed. We liked what we saw, and came under budget.”

The new playground is a Fontana by GameTime, which is small in size but big on play value. Designed for children ages 2 to 5, the Fontana is perfect for climbing and sliding. Ian notes that it fits the space perfectly in the kindergarten yard, and there’s definitely more kids using it. With the smaller kindergarten structure replaced, the school hopes to begin fundraising efforts for the larger structure.

Congrats on your new playground!

Is your school in need of a new fun and inclusive playground or does your existing structure need a bit of a facelift? If funding is what is keeping you from creating your ideal play space, then Play! by Crozier has a solution!

On now until October 30th, Play! is offering up to $500,000 in grants to schools across Manitoba, Ontario, NWT, Nunavut and the Maritimes for the purchase of playground equipment. If chosen, Play! will match up to 33% on every dollar of your allotted playground budget to ensure you get the perfect play space for your school. Funding is given on a first come basis, so it is recommended to apply now as funds will go fast!

How can I apply?

Applying is quick and easy. If you are a registered school in need or an upgraded or new playground, simply fill out the application in the school brochure HERE to tell us why your school would benefit from the grant. Note: Must have an existing minimum playground budget of $20k in order to apply for a complete play structure. Completed applications must be received by emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.no later than October 30th, 2015.

How can I use the funds?

With the big increase in funding, you then choose from Play! by Crozier’s product lines to tailor your playground equipment to your school’s unique space and budget. Since the Play! School Grant Program can be used in conjunction with any other provincial or government grant, some schools have been able to double and even triple their original budget. Note: Grant dollars must be used by December 15th, 2015.

I'm approved! ...Now what?

If your application is approved, you will be contacted by a dedicated Play! Sales Associate to discuss the next steps in building your creative play space. For now, browse through our School Grant Brochure and dream as if you were back in grade school!